Picket fence construction



Dec.. 39, 1944. 1.. L. DICKMAN IICKET FENCE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14, 1941 INVENTOR. D 1 Ckmazz C 7 TOENE Dec. 19, 1944. DIC MAN 2,365,397

PICKET FENCE CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 14, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENT OR.

.1) m'lard L- Bic/imam I flrrorewey Patented Dec. 19, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,365,397 PICKET FENCE CONSTRUCTION Leonard L. Dickman, Pasadena, Calif. ApplicationAugust 14, 1941, Serial No. 406,740

1 Claim.

Another object of the invention is to providea group of standard structural elements adapted to be secured together in a variety of shapes and arrangements for making artistic as well as strong fence structures.

' .Aifurther object of the invention is to provide afence structure in which the conventional posts and rails are eliminated.

An additional object is to provide an improved fence. structure which'can' be completed at substantial savings in cost and time required for construction over other structures as now made.

A further object of the invention is to provide structural elements adapted for ready assembly into a variety of structures, such as fences, furniture, cabinets and buildings.

Other objects and advantage will be brought out more fully in the following specification, references being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a typical fence structure embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation view, enlarged, showing the structural elements of the same.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the same.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a typical post structure.

Fig. 6 is a plan View of a group of rail or picket elements embodying my invention.

Figs. '7, 8, 9 and 10 are perspective views showing details of the steps of fabrication.

Fig. 11 is a separate view of the anchor rod.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of modified form of anchor element, and

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a typical building structure embodying features of the invention.

Referring more particularily to the drawings and especially to Fig. 6, I show a plurality of rails or pickets l5, each comprising rectangular sectioned timber, preferably one inch by two inches and of selected lengths, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 feet. Pickets iii are each provided with holes [6 and I! bored through the longer dimension, and a hole I8 is similarly provided at the center.

The pickets are held together by an anchor rod [9 such as a steel wire of suitable strength having a laterally bent end portion 29 adapted to be embedded in a cast concrete block 2 i. Rod

I9 is-passed through holes Iii-or ll. After the pickets have been secured together the free end.

ofwire I9 is formed into a loop 22 orotherwise bent sofas to prevent removal of the pickets from the wire. If desired the wire or rod I9 can be threaded and a nut and washer secured thereto, to lock the pickets together. In practice, rod l9 will be provided in standard lengths, such as 2,3, 4, BM 6 feet, and after the pickets have been secured thereon the excess wire cut oif and the loop 22 formed adjacent the top picket. Holes Iii-and H ar preferablyspaced substantially the thickness of the pickets, and holes i6 positioned a distance from the end of each picket equal to 1 times the thickness thereof. This spacing and positioning of holes l6 and I! is important for certain of the desired patterns which can be created by the picketiconstruction .of this invention.

Figs. 1 to 5 show an exampleiof a fence-cone structed according to the invention. A plurality of pickets l5 of selected lengths such as 3, 4, or 6 feet are secured on rods 19 embedded in blocks Other sections of the fence are thereupon formed,

and joined to the proceeding sections, as should be obvious.

By the structure described it will be seen that a fence can be easily and quickly constructed and can have any desired arrangement of the pickets, as clearly shown Fig. 1. The various sections can be offset so as to get around trees or bushes or other obstructions or such space may be provided for the. same since the pickets can be pivoted and the sections can be arranged at any desired angle with respect to each other.

Fig. 1 shows a plurality of posts 23, and Fig. 5 shows on an enlarged scale a plan view of a post '23. This comprises short pieces 24, suchas 6 or 8 inches in length, of the same picket stock as pickets l5 and similarly bored for securing rods 19. The terminal sections of pickets I5 are secured by a rod l 9 passed through the center holes of one column of pieces 24.

In Fig. 7 I show the manner in which a modified arrangement of the pickets is made. The anchor blocks Zla are each provided with four rods !9 on which the pickets l5 are placed using both holes l6 and I1, thus making a stronger post structure and providing a different type of fence design.

In Fig. 8 I show the manner in which pickets Hi can be crossed and secured with a rod 19 extending through the center holes I8 of the pickets.

In Fig. 9 I show a modified arrangement wherein a space block 25 having a bore hole is placed on a rod I 9 between pairs of pickets l 5.

In Fig. 10 I show pickets l secured by a pair of rods I9 which extend through both holes l6 and I! of the pickets.

In Fig. 12 I show a modified form of anchor element which comprises a pair of plate members 26 having interfitting slotted portions 2! so as to form an X. One or both of members 26 may be provided with pressed out lip portions 28 forming, with the interfitting corners of the plate members, securing means for one of the rods l9. By this construction the anchors of Fig. 12 need not be assembled with rods I9 until just prior to being put into the ground and no holes in. the ground are necessary as plate members 26 can be easily forced therein.

In Fig. 13 I show the manner in which a building structure can be made with the hereinabove described elements. A column of pickets A, such as of four or six foot lengths, are joined with columns l3, such as one foot pieces, and similarly columns C and D of two foot and one foot respectively also joined, forming corner spaces K, walls E being fabricated of pickets of any desired lengths, such as four feet. A door and windows if desired may be provided as should be obvious. The structure may be provided with a roof by placing two by four pieces F across the uppermost pickets B and C as indicated and the other roof members secured across the two by fours F in the conventional manner. The corners formed by elements B, C and D serve to strengthen the structure and also provide space which may be used for storage such as shelving or otherwise or, by the addition of strip members, seats may be formed therein.

From the foregoing description it should be clear that the structural elements comprising my invention which consist of a few standard parts can be assembled and combined into structures of a wide variety as to shape, size and design. The picket elements can be cut, bored and painted at a central shop or factory and the proper number of each of the parts delivered to the point of assembly and the only assembly operation required for alteration of a part is the formation of the bends 22 at the ends of rods l9. As a variation the pickets may be arranged vertically and strung on rods or wires l9 secured between posts in the conventional manner.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

In a wall structure the combination of a plurality of bar elements disposed in concatenated groups, each of said groups comprising a plurality.of substantially parallel spaced bar elements, said bar elements having aligned transverse holes adjacent the ends thereof, the end portions of the bar elements of adjacent groups being over-lapping to align the holes of the bar elements of the said adjacent groups and means to inter-engage the bar elements of adjacent groups comprising a rod extended through said aligned holes, supporting means for each of said rods at an end thereof and abutment means at the opposite end thereof, the bars of selected groups being of a length different from that of bars of other of said groups, and said supporting means being embedded in the ground.

LEONARD L. DICKMAN. 

